Ensign D'tin Breys - Second Chances
Bea S
(( Computer Core Upper Level - Deck 5 - USS Karnack ))
For the moment all eyes were on Breys. She really thought this plan would work. It was going to take every bit of technical knowledge the group had. This kind of thing was extra credit in senior level engineering courses. Everything should run smoothly though, except for that one little issue.
Breys: Does anyone know how to manually remodulate a force field?
Thankfully the first officer spoke up, the plan was still in motion.
Munro: I guess that’s me
In the distance there was a crashing noise, it sounded of metal being torn from itself. Deep below them the hull was being torn to scrap.
MacKenzie: ::narrowing her eyes as she listened to the sound:: I believe they’ve breached the hull…
Breys could only hope that the force field would be up soon. The things sounded somewhat distant still, but she didn’t feel like gambling on their speed.
Below them, the pair searching for the generator seemed to have found what they were looking for.
Brexis: ::To Bergmen:: Hey. Is it this big hunk of ::gesturing vaguely while squinting her eyes:: whatever this is.
Bergmen: Yes. Yes, ma’am ::sighs:: But it looks like it did go through an emergency shutdown.
Breys: It sounds like they’re below us somewhere.
Munro: I think that’s our cue to get a move on :: shouts down to Bergman and Brexis :: We’ll definitely need those batteries for the graviton emitters!
Brexis: ::Yelling back:: We are working on it!
All of a sudden Breys was an observer in the chaos. She wished she could help, but there wasn't a clear place for her to assist without standing directly in the way.
Breys: Any luck with the force field sir?
Munro: :: sighs :: The power flow isn’t consistent enough. One of the conduits must have failed. We’re gonna have to restore that first.
The captain moved to the panel and began inputting commands.
MacKenzie: I’m going to see what I can do about trying to shunt power. You keep working on the forcefields.
From below her, Breys heard incredibly concerning news.
Brexis: Ollie, I’m going to be honest. Aside from kicking this thing, I have no clue how to get it going.
Bergmen: ::smiles:: Just let me work. I will tell you when you will be needed.
At least one of them sounded confident. She didn’t want to explore the alternative to this working.
Munro: Response
MacKenzie: ::shaking her head:: I don’t know why this isn't working. ::shouting:: Any luck with a generator?
The room swam around Breys. Around her everyone was fighting for their lives. Why was she here? There had to be a reason, there had always been a reason. A way to grasp desperately onto her mortality with the rest of them.
Brexis: ::Yelling back to the captain:: We are trying!
Bergmen: ::whispers as he concentrate:: Just a second, Lieutenant. This is a delicate process.
There was another scraping noise echoing from below them. The Things were making slow progress. Inching towards new food sources.
Breys: I think they’re getting closer.::nervously:: Any way I can help?
Munro: Response
Responding promptly, Breys positioned herself where she could be most helpful. She let out a calming exhale. Finally, useful again.
MacKenzie: Whatever we’re going to do, we’d better do it fast..
Brexis: ::Shouting at no one in particular:: I kicked it! It’s turning on!
Barely echoing up the ladder shaft, Breys could make out a quiet complaint.
Bergmen: ::whispers to Brexis:: Really?
Breys: Let’s hope the generator warms up soon.
Munro/MacKenzie: Response
Brexis: Sometimes things just need kicking to work right. Percussive maintenance is what I think they call it.
Breys knew this was a common technique among advanced engineers, but its popularity varied wildly by profession. It was a rare and masterful art among scientists, in which you took a delicate and precise piece of equipment, spent an entire shift trying to fix it, and smacked into it in desperation. Only for it to whir to life.
Bergmen: ::winks to Brexis and smile:: Please… Don’t do that, ma’am, next time. Ok?
Breys: ::under her breath:: As long as it works.
Munro/MacKenzie: Response
Brexis: The batteries should be charging now. ::beat, then shouting:: The batteries should be charging now!
The buffer for the power flow immediately started building, and the brightness of the lights slowly started to even out.
Bergmen: ::shouting:: Where do you need us captain?
Breys/Munro/MacKenzie: Response
For some strange reason, Brexis doubled over in pain at that moment. Something about these creatures hurt her specifically.
Brexis: ::Pained:: They are getting closer!
Bergmen jumped in closer, gently taking her by the shoulders, and bent down to meet her gaze.
Bergmen: Lieutenant, it’s ok. They are not here. Listen to the sound of my voice. Breath. I need you, Lieutenant. I need your help. ::calmly:: It’s gonna be ok. Breath.
Breys: Power should be stable enough for the force field soon. Let's hope it holds them back.
Munro/MacKenzie: Response
Bergmen: ::calmly:: Good. Good. In and out. Let it all out. I will be right back, ok?
Whatever was happening to the officer below them, it was costing them time they didn't have. The restrained anxiety in Breys's voice was obvious.
Breys: Everything alright down there? We're running low on time.
Munro/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
Bergmen: ::shouts:: All systems… (beat) Most systems show green! The important one! Ready anytime you are!
The console in front of Breys barely had enough power to flicker on and off, she could only partially pull proper readings from it, but it was the best they had.
Breys: Alright. ::looks to Munro:: I'm as ready as I can be.
Munro/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
The first officer began to tweak the phase modulator back and forth gently, barely misaligning and realigning the flow. Breys watched her console in suspense.
For a moment the power flickered on.
Breys: ::scrambling to get data off her console:: The current frequency is- ::the console shuts off again, the lights dim:: I couldn't get it in time.
Bergman/Munro/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
After the handful of seconds that made up eternity, they had another chance.
Breys: ::with more urgency:: The current force field frequency is 83.6 megahertz! We need to scan within a few megahertz of that.
Bergman/Munro/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
Hopefully this would hold the Things off long enough for them to reestablish primary systems. The search was still within a stable range for force fields, but one slip could let the barrier down.
Breys: Can you work out any of the fluctuations in power down there? The force field is barely stable. Maybe kick it again?
She hoped that came across as a joke.
Bergman/Brexis: Response
Whether or not this worked came down to now, the finer searches required a steady hand and a reasonable grasp of the physics that dictated force fields. Munro began to delicately adjust the modulator, and…
Bergman/Munro/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
TAG/TBC
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Ensign D’tin Breys
Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240301DB4